Cages: Wire vs Bin vs Fish Tank
The purpose of this section is to provide research on rat housing requirements per Norway rat habits and behaviors as studied in the wild. This section will provide you with information to help you decide which type of enclosure (tank, wire, or plastic bin) will be the best, healthiest home for your furry friends, and which are not acceptable. Here is an overview (followed by the research):
IDEAL: Wire cages, large, such as the Critter Nation (these are ideal):
Are as ventilated as a cage can get ("protect rats from climate extremes")
-Allow fresh air exchange
-Decelerate ammonia build up
-Maintain proper humidity percentage
-Prevent rapid changes in temperature
Allow for natural rat behaviors
-Climbing, exploring, playing, hiding
Allow for increases in physical health
-Strength and endurance through climbing, jumping, etc
OKAY: Bins (Christmas tree size or 110qt)
Are homemade, but must be made correctly
Require purchasing chicken wire/hardware cloth, grommets or zip ties, sharp object to cutout windows
Need large openings on both sides and top, or one side and top covered with hardware cloth for ventilation.
Can be easier to clean than wire cage depending on wire cage brand and set-up.
Cheaper to make, but more difficult to provide proper climbing options and stimulation.
Smaller than what an appropriately sized wire cage would be
AVOID: Glass tanks
Are NOT ventilated (do not "protect rats from climate extremes") - leads to disease and respiratory distress:
-Does NOT allow fresh air exchange
-Accelerates rapid ammonia build up
-High percentage of humidity promotes bacterial and fungal growth, as well as respiratory distress
-Promotes rapid changes in temperature, leading to illness or death
Does NOT allow for natural rat behaviors such as climbing, exploring, playing, hiding
The following article, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, discusses behavior of the wild Norway rat and assesses "aspects of rat behavior relevent to housing" and is meant to be used as a guideline in scientific institutions:
https://www.animalethics.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/222512/housing-rats-scientific-institutions.pdf
The aspects assessed in this article include:
"species-specific behavioural requirements, including the availability and design of space to enable free
movement and activity, sleeping, privacy, contact with others of the same species, and environmental
enrichment"
"Pens, cages and containers should ensure animal wellbeing and comfort"
"species-specific environmental requirements, such as lighting, temperature, air quality, appropriate
day/night cycles and protection from excessive noise and vibrations;"
Some information on wild Norway rat behaviors:
"The most commonly used laboratory rats have evolved from the Norway Rat, Rattus
norvegicus which lives mainly in burrow systems in the ground (Koolhas 1999). Both wild and
domestic rats will create complex, three dimensional burrow environments (Brain 92; Boice
1977)."
"Normal behaviours of rats include climbing, walking, standing on their hind legs and
stretching upright, burrowing, nesting, gnawing, foraging, grooming (themselves and each
other) and retreating (into hiding areas)."
Thus, our pet rats not only burrow and dig, but they also climb. I feel this is important to mention separately because I've seen too many breeder try to deny rats' need to climb.
When reading the below information quoted from the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, ask yourself if cages vs bins vs tanks could provide the following:
Pens, cages and containers must:
(i) be constructed of safe, durable, materials;
(ii) be kept clean;
(iii) be maintained in good repair;
iv) be secure and escape-proof;
(v) protect animals from climatic extremes;
(vi) not cause injury to animals;
(vii) be large enough for the species and the number of animals held; and
(viii) be compatible with the behavioural needs of the species.
Rats should be provided with items to enrich their environment. Items that assist rats to
perform each of the five following categories of behaviours should be provided:
* social interaction (see Section 3.1 The Social Environment),
* chewing/gnawing,
* locomotion (including climbing, exploring and playing),
* resting/hiding, and
* manipulating, carrying and hoarding food and objects.
The design, construction and management of a rat’s immediate enclosure will determine
to a large extent how environmental factors, such as temperature, light levels, humidity and
air quality impact on the rat
A room temperature range for rat housing between 20 - 26 C is recommended.
A relative humidity at the level of rat cages of 40-70% is recommended.
Cleaning regimes should be managed to maintain ammonia levels within a cage below 25
ppm.
Rat pens and enlarged cages, that allow for large areas in which rats can move, both in horizontal and vertical planes, have been described (Spangenberg, Augustsson, Dahlborn, Essen-Gustavsson and Cvek 2005; Sorensen, Ottesen and Hansen 2004; Hurst, Barnard, Hare et al 1996). In the study by Spangenberg et al, male rats in groups of 8 in pens measuring 3.15m2 were shown to have physiological parameters reflecting increased physical fitness (eg increased muscle strength and endurance), over individually housed rats in standard cages. It was concluded that the large pen provided an environment that stimulated physical activity and more varied behaviour.
Zimmermann et al 2001 describes the provision of a “near-to-natural” environment:
"Enrichment-dependent differences in novelty exploration in rats can be explained by habituation"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275280
Enrichment items include:
Social interaction:
* See 3.1 The Social Environment
Chewing / gnawing:
* Small block of wood drilled with holes (if the block is small enough, it will be
chewed into small pieces and disposed of during cage cleaning before it has a chance
to become significantly soiled) (Chmiel and Noonan 1996)
* Branches and softwood sticks (eg tongue depressors) (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and
Harper 1999; Scharmann 1991; Johnson, Patterson-Kane and Niel 2004)
* “Kong Toys” and “Nylabones” (Belz, Kennell, Czambel et al 2003)
Locomotion (including climbing, exploring and playing):
* Branches (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999)
* Running wheel (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999)
* Ledges
* Space (in 3 dimensions) (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999; Scharmann 1991)
* Provision (and rotation on a regular basis) of novel objects such as plastic “toys”
(Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999; Scharmann 1991)
Resting / hiding:
* Nesting boxes (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999; Patterson-Kane 2003)
* Nesting material (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999)
* Ledges
Manipulating, carrying and hoarding food and objects:
* Providing food within the cage that can be picked up and held and hoarded (such as
sunflower seeds) (Johnson and Patterson-Kane 2003)
* Cellulose paper and straw on the lid of the cage (Scharmann 1991)
IDEAL: Wire cages, large, such as the Critter Nation (these are ideal):
Are as ventilated as a cage can get ("protect rats from climate extremes")
-Allow fresh air exchange
-Decelerate ammonia build up
-Maintain proper humidity percentage
-Prevent rapid changes in temperature
Allow for natural rat behaviors
-Climbing, exploring, playing, hiding
Allow for increases in physical health
-Strength and endurance through climbing, jumping, etc
OKAY: Bins (Christmas tree size or 110qt)
Are homemade, but must be made correctly
Require purchasing chicken wire/hardware cloth, grommets or zip ties, sharp object to cutout windows
Need large openings on both sides and top, or one side and top covered with hardware cloth for ventilation.
Can be easier to clean than wire cage depending on wire cage brand and set-up.
Cheaper to make, but more difficult to provide proper climbing options and stimulation.
Smaller than what an appropriately sized wire cage would be
AVOID: Glass tanks
Are NOT ventilated (do not "protect rats from climate extremes") - leads to disease and respiratory distress:
-Does NOT allow fresh air exchange
-Accelerates rapid ammonia build up
-High percentage of humidity promotes bacterial and fungal growth, as well as respiratory distress
-Promotes rapid changes in temperature, leading to illness or death
Does NOT allow for natural rat behaviors such as climbing, exploring, playing, hiding
The following article, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, discusses behavior of the wild Norway rat and assesses "aspects of rat behavior relevent to housing" and is meant to be used as a guideline in scientific institutions:
https://www.animalethics.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/222512/housing-rats-scientific-institutions.pdf
The aspects assessed in this article include:
"species-specific behavioural requirements, including the availability and design of space to enable free
movement and activity, sleeping, privacy, contact with others of the same species, and environmental
enrichment"
"Pens, cages and containers should ensure animal wellbeing and comfort"
"species-specific environmental requirements, such as lighting, temperature, air quality, appropriate
day/night cycles and protection from excessive noise and vibrations;"
Some information on wild Norway rat behaviors:
"The most commonly used laboratory rats have evolved from the Norway Rat, Rattus
norvegicus which lives mainly in burrow systems in the ground (Koolhas 1999). Both wild and
domestic rats will create complex, three dimensional burrow environments (Brain 92; Boice
1977)."
"Normal behaviours of rats include climbing, walking, standing on their hind legs and
stretching upright, burrowing, nesting, gnawing, foraging, grooming (themselves and each
other) and retreating (into hiding areas)."
Thus, our pet rats not only burrow and dig, but they also climb. I feel this is important to mention separately because I've seen too many breeder try to deny rats' need to climb.
When reading the below information quoted from the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, ask yourself if cages vs bins vs tanks could provide the following:
Pens, cages and containers must:
(i) be constructed of safe, durable, materials;
(ii) be kept clean;
(iii) be maintained in good repair;
iv) be secure and escape-proof;
(v) protect animals from climatic extremes;
(vi) not cause injury to animals;
(vii) be large enough for the species and the number of animals held; and
(viii) be compatible with the behavioural needs of the species.
Rats should be provided with items to enrich their environment. Items that assist rats to
perform each of the five following categories of behaviours should be provided:
* social interaction (see Section 3.1 The Social Environment),
* chewing/gnawing,
* locomotion (including climbing, exploring and playing),
* resting/hiding, and
* manipulating, carrying and hoarding food and objects.
The design, construction and management of a rat’s immediate enclosure will determine
to a large extent how environmental factors, such as temperature, light levels, humidity and
air quality impact on the rat
A room temperature range for rat housing between 20 - 26 C is recommended.
A relative humidity at the level of rat cages of 40-70% is recommended.
Cleaning regimes should be managed to maintain ammonia levels within a cage below 25
ppm.
Rat pens and enlarged cages, that allow for large areas in which rats can move, both in horizontal and vertical planes, have been described (Spangenberg, Augustsson, Dahlborn, Essen-Gustavsson and Cvek 2005; Sorensen, Ottesen and Hansen 2004; Hurst, Barnard, Hare et al 1996). In the study by Spangenberg et al, male rats in groups of 8 in pens measuring 3.15m2 were shown to have physiological parameters reflecting increased physical fitness (eg increased muscle strength and endurance), over individually housed rats in standard cages. It was concluded that the large pen provided an environment that stimulated physical activity and more varied behaviour.
Zimmermann et al 2001 describes the provision of a “near-to-natural” environment:
"Enrichment-dependent differences in novelty exploration in rats can be explained by habituation"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275280
Enrichment items include:
Social interaction:
* See 3.1 The Social Environment
Chewing / gnawing:
* Small block of wood drilled with holes (if the block is small enough, it will be
chewed into small pieces and disposed of during cage cleaning before it has a chance
to become significantly soiled) (Chmiel and Noonan 1996)
* Branches and softwood sticks (eg tongue depressors) (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and
Harper 1999; Scharmann 1991; Johnson, Patterson-Kane and Niel 2004)
* “Kong Toys” and “Nylabones” (Belz, Kennell, Czambel et al 2003)
Locomotion (including climbing, exploring and playing):
* Branches (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999)
* Running wheel (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999)
* Ledges
* Space (in 3 dimensions) (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999; Scharmann 1991)
* Provision (and rotation on a regular basis) of novel objects such as plastic “toys”
(Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999; Scharmann 1991)
Resting / hiding:
* Nesting boxes (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999; Patterson-Kane 2003)
* Nesting material (Patterson-Kane, Hunt and Harper 1999)
* Ledges
Manipulating, carrying and hoarding food and objects:
* Providing food within the cage that can be picked up and held and hoarded (such as
sunflower seeds) (Johnson and Patterson-Kane 2003)
* Cellulose paper and straw on the lid of the cage (Scharmann 1991)